How it All began

What began with a dream of opening a Dual Language Immersion Montessori school in Oaxaca brought upon the creation of Paz Oaxaca. Once on the ground, Kelly and Abraham realized there was much more to be done to cultivate peace in Oaxaca, Mexico. With a commitment to diversity, Paz in Oaxaca, Mexico, empowers children and their communities through equitable quality education and comprehensive neighborhood programs so that all can flourish and build a society free of corruption, violence, inequity, and poverty.​

Abraham Vásquez

"Making a positive change in the world is incredibly important to me. As a Mexican, I deeply understand the challenges that my country faces. As part of a theater group, I traveled through Mexico performing plays on social and economic problems through a government grant. I became very aware of problems in Mexico and came to firmly believe that education is the answer. Early childhood education offers the best opportunity to effect positive change. I strongly believe in the Montessori method and have seen it do wonderful things for our daughter. I am a professional Spanish teacher and aspiring self-­sufficient farmer. Opening a school to a diverse population that provides quality education focusing on peace fulfills my dream of making a positive change in my home state, Oaxaca."- Abraham Vásquez

Kelly Bodtke

"While traveling and studying Spanish in Latin America in 2007, I had the vision to open a Dual Language Immersion Montessori school in Oaxaca, Mexico, to promote positive change. Everything in my life since then has been moving me toward opening Paz Dual Language Immersion Montessori. When I first had the dream, I was the music teacher in a wonderful Dual Language Montessori in Denver, called Academia Ana Marie Sandoval de Lenguaje Dual Montessori— a public magnet school serving a diverse community. I was hired as one of the founding staff, and as such, I was very involved with the creation of the school.

After seven years in Denver and earning my graduate degree in Early Childhood Education, I became completely enchanted with Montessori. Though it was after three years of living in Oaxaca, Mexico, meeting my husband and having my daughter while teaching undergraduate courses at a university, before we returned to the States.

In 2011, I began my training to be a Primary Montessori guide at the Montessori Institute of North Texas. After completing my certification, I worked as a primary guide at Lumin East Dallas Community School that provides incredible high-quality Montessori education to an at-risk student population. At this wonderful school, I was with the same class for 4 years, I gained the experience necessary to open my own classroom.

​In 2015, with our family, my husband and I returned to Oaxaca and opened Paz Dual Language Immersion Montessori and we are now in our third year. Once in Oaxaca we realized that there was so much more needed by the community and we are continuing to serve the greater community in Oaxaca through comprehensive neighborhood programs."​- Kelly Bodtke